Who’s who

PARISH CLERK Jo Hemingway is usually the first person to contact if you wish to alert the parish council to something needing attention or action. Talk to her informally on 01780 444311 during office hours or send her an email.

Shelagh Busby – chairman is Collyweston born and bred. She knows the village and many of its inhabitants very well. She remembers when many of today’s middle-aged parents were themselves pupils at the village school (which is now the village hall, for which she is the booking agent), and can recall when there were no housing estates, no street lights, and when Collyweston still had three pubs. A member of the Collyweston Players, Shelagh also runs the village cemetery, and chairs the committee of the Playing Field Association. The longest serving member of the village hall committee, she has seen it through the construction of two extensions, two major refurbishments, 20+ pantomimes, and the achievement of charitable status.* Key responsibilities: Cemetery administration * Playing Field Association committee chairman and trustee chairman * Planning applications

Fiona Cowan – vice chairman was born in Scotland and moved to Collyweston in 1995. She helped see the village hall committee through the 1997 refurbishment project and is a former chairman of its management committee. She coordinates Collyweston’s Neighbourhood Watch scheme and the Community Speedwatch. Fi is a keen musician, and you can find her in the thick of the free acoustic music nights at the Collyweston Slater on alternate Monday nights, as well as playing guitar at ceilidhs with Hannibal’s Heroes. She writes, looks after websites, edits books and trains people for a living. Fiona lives on Main Road with partner Dave.* Key responsibilities: Planning committee (co-chairman) * Neighbourhood Plan (acting chairman) * Playing Field Association trustee and vice-chairman of trustees * King’s Cliffe landfill site local liaison committee * Police and other agencies Joint Action Group * ENC Joint Standards & Complaints Committee (parish council member) * Collyweston village website * @Collyweston on Twitter * Collyweston Village Stuff on Facebook * CPFA website (co-webmaster with the Clerk) * parish council contributions to Collyweston News magazine

Linda Byrne has lived in the village since 1986 and before her retirement was a civil servant at RAF Wittering. She helps her husband, Alan, with his business, driving local people to various places around the country – often to airports to go on holiday or business trips. She has a son living in Fife in Scotland and likes to get up there a couple of times a year to go walking and golfing. Linda loves the village and rural community life and does all she can to ensure that any development and planning is in keeping with the village scene, preserving the Conservation Area, of benefit to the community as a whole, and not just lining the pockets of a few. She’s passionate about conservation of the environment and recycling – and hates to see litter lining the hedgerows.* Key responsibilities: Internal finances checker * Planning committee (co-chairman) * Playing Field Association trustee *

John Baldwin married Mary Scott (a “Collyweston Girl”) and moved to the village in 1969. He immediately got involved with the community despite being a “newcomer”. In his early time he served on the Playgroup committee, the School Governors as well as 14 years on the Parish Council. After going to college he worked for 19 years on the family farm at Barholm. He then, together with his brother- in-law, set up an engineering company in Collyweston which later expanded into Corby. John retired at the age of 59 looking forward to spending time at his first love, the countryside. He’d completed both Wainwright’s Coast to Coast (199 miles) and the Pennine Way (268 miles) and was looking to other challenges when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Although a blow, this has not stopped him completely; on “good days” he still walks with friends and the Collyweston Ramblers. John is a member of Collyweston Historical and Preservation Society, chairman of the Stamford Parkinson’s Support Group, and a Rotarian. He realises development is required in the village but believes locals should have more influence on how that takes place.* Key responsibilities: Playing Field Association trustee * assists with Cemetery admin * Planning applications

There are 2 new councillors, Christopher Close and William Hancox, whose details will be added here soon.

There is a new vacancy for a parish councillor. This is a very interesting voluntary role, for which training is provided. The council meets in the village hall on the 2nd Thursday of each month (except for August). To find out more, contact the parish clerk Mrs Jo Hemingway (444311) or any councillor you may know already from the list above.